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Wilfred Norman Robinson

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Wilfred Norman Robinson
Robinson Wilfred Norman.jpg
Australia"s Fighting Sons of the Empire page 117
Personal Information
Date of Birth not known 1895
Place of Birth Midland Junction, Western Australia
Death 7 May 1917
Place of Death 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station near Aveloy, France
Age at Enlistment 21 years, 1 month
Description 5'6¾" (1.70m) tall ; 155 lbs
70.307 kg
; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair
Occupation Traction engine-driver
Religion Methodist
Address NOK 22 East Parade, Mt Lawley, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Thomas Robinson
Military Information
Reg Number 5917
Date of Enlistment 25 May 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 27th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement, C Company 9 Platoon / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation 30 Oct 1916 ‒ 28 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A16 Port Melbourne
Fate Wounded in Action 5 May 1917 & Died of those Wounds 7 May 1917
at 3rd Australlian Casualty Clearing Station
Monument Jarrahdale Honour Roll
ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Australian War Memorial
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal




Pre War

During 1911 Wilfred had married Eleanor Edith Blackwell (b. 1882, d. 1975)

War Service

On entering camp, Wilfred spent two weeks on general training before being allocated to the Service Corps on 10 Jun 1916. However, on 28 Aug 1916 he was reallocated to the 17th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, but this was to change again on 5 Sep 1916 when he transferred to the 16th draft for the 27th Battalion.

He sailed for England with them. During the journey, Wilfred spent the best part of four days in the Ship's hospital, reason not recorded. On arrival in England he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion based at Rollestone to prepare for trench warfare in France and Belgium.

On 8 Feb 1917 he proceeded overseas to France aboard HMT Invicta from Folkestone. After several days at the 2nd Division Base Depot in Étaples he joined the 27th Battalion at Scots Redoubt camp on 11 Feb 1917, where he was allocated the role of Lewis Gunner in 9 Platoon, C Company.

The battalion was relieved from the front line after 19 days straight on 6 May 1917. However, the day before, 1 Officer and 6 men were wounded by friendly artillery, Wilfred was one of them, having received a shell wound to his left thigh which required his leg to be amputated. He died in the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station as a result of his injuries.

Some detail is provided by his Red Cross file [1].

"He was wounded at Bullecourt on 5th May by one of our own shells. He was carried back to the Dressing Station and reached No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, situated then near Aveloy. Here his leg was amputated and he died of his wounds on 7th May." Tymons QMS C Coy 708
  • Grevillers British Cemetery
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission


Mother granted a pension of £2 per fortnight from 23 Jul 1917.

Notes

The Grevillers British Cemetery is 1 mile (1.6km) west of Bapaume.

  1. "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Wilfred Norman Robinson". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018. 

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